Singapore's Budget Terminal set to grow

31 Mar 2008 by business traveller

After two years in operation, Singapore’s Budget Terminal (BT) will conduct a US$7.2 million expansion to increase its handling capacity from the current 2.7 million passengers a year to seven million. In addition, the floor area will also be raised from 25,000sqm to 28,700sqm.

Since opening in March 2006, the facility has served about 2.9 million passengers, thanks to growing frequencies of scheduled flights operated by Tiger Airways and Philippine-based carrier Cebu Pacific Air. Today, BT is linked to 20 cities in the region, up from 12 cities when it made its debut.

Lim Kim Choon, director-general and CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, said: “When we first decided to build the Budget Terminal, no one could accurately predict the success of low-cost travel in this region. With increased air transport liberalisation in this region, airlines, including low-cost carriers, have now great opportunities to rapidly expand their air network and increase their flight operations.”

Lim described improvements as timely with passenger traffic expected to increase further, given Asean’s goal to lift all restrictions on passenger flights between Asean capitals by year’s end.

The project involves adding seven check-in counters and installing more baggage-handling equipment. Also, three more passenger boarding gates will be constructed, bringing the total to 10. The kerbside at the arrival hall will be widened to create more room for vehicles dropping off passengers.

BT is a five-minute drive or less than two kilometres away from Changi Airport’s Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Free shuttle bus services ply routes between these facilities to allow for seamless connections.